Perhaps if the Pedophile Priest was punished properly and exposed, the victim's healing process could be expedited.

What's a Victim of Catholic Molestation To Do?
Thank God if it isn't YOU!

Tormented by dirty deeds and secrets from childhood
Victims coming forth in masses
Time of Limitations has Passed -- it's too late
Past Crimes and Transgressions they canNOT voice or state
Repeat pedophile priest offenders allowed to escape.

Statute of Limitations Ran Out - Mother's Left in Painful Doubt
Victims suffer for years and years
Memories flood forward nightmares and fears
Embarrassed and humiliated for childhood acts
Abused by the Catholic's - PROTECTED Pedophile Flock

Priests exposed throughout the nation
We don't need explanation, or meetings or synods
Arrest them - Protect our children --
No excuses -- No questions -- No age Limitations!

"The Charter....ensures that young people are PROTECTED,
that victims are truly listened to and assisted,
that all priests are TRUSTWORTHY and that all Bishops
act RESPONSIBLY..." A-hem !!

PROTECTED
Victims face grave humiliation from everyone
No protection no relief -- they live with constant grief.

TRUSTWORTHY
An offender in his own right, Bishop Lynch accused of sexual
harassment -- $l00,000 squelched his enchantment. He is
the ring leader and promises change. $$ ?? A Trustworthy man?
Removal from ministry and incarceration would be God's nod?
How can the guilty lead the flock?
Zero tolerance to -- start at the TOP.

RESPONSIBLY
Fr. Schaeufele FINALLY in prison has been abusing our Altar Boys
by the sacrament of "ENEMA'S." He has been doing this responsibly
for so long that the statute of limitations has ran out for several of
his victims.

Pedophile priests belong in prison NOW. There is no trust,
comfort or holiness. Deceit, disguise and disgust.
Priests dressed up in holy frocks
Using the fear of God against our little tots
NOW NOW NOW They must be stopped

Nothing to discuss, Ungodly transgressions
Harm and hurt our babies, scar them for life and disgust us
Excommunicate the accused/guilty priests and
Place them Under Arrest
No Questions - No Votes - No Contest

Your writing struck an emotional chord---my brother was abused by a priest... and I was fortunate to help him uncover the ugly mess. The fundamental irony was the whole legal and civil process---the very legal system of checks and balances that serves to protect the innocent, woefully does not---almost like a proverb. We may forgive, but forgetting is a nightmare.

What did Jesus say 'Let him who be without sin throw the first rock' And doesn't he also say 'love your enimes-do good to those who hurt you' These are truths and we must abide by the Word. It's time to put this aside and move on.

I agree with you 100%. As a devoted ex-catholic I have known the ugliness of the church hidden from public view. I was not sexually abused but as a child of only five I was beaten with rulers, straps, yardsticks. I was not allowed to go to bathrooms and if because of this we had "accidents" we were forced to sit in it till we went home ridiculed by nuns and other students encouraged by nuns. We were mentally and morally abused and the one s who were successfully brainwashed have denied that it happens. If this is an example of God's work then I am not sure that I want to be a part of God's work at least on this world.

very passionate write, and plea. it matters not, the guise inwhich a predator seeks a victim. priest, friend, babysitter...
bottom line, our children deserve to be safe. to grow up healthy and whole. the laws are in place to protect them...now we need to use them.
i am not so forgiving, i'm afraid. incarceration only means that our tax dollars support them..i am known for my tolerance, except on this issue. because i am a mother of a victim/survivor...the grandmother of a victim/survivor, and a victim/survivir, myself!
hugs and understanding
krissy

Reviewed by Tomas Ughdair (Reader)

6/16/2002

Hi Karen,
I supported you last time and I support you again, hit them were it hurts in print.
Morchuis

Reviewed by Gregory Sonn (Reader)

6/16/2002

BRAVO Karen! To hell with the churches law. It is a felony and an aberration to true beleivers in God. The organized church to me is nothing more than organized crime! I love the Lord but question man made rules and hidden agendas. I agree with Kay. Bold but necessary write. Gregg

Karen, I really hear you. As a victim of molestation by two seperate violators in childhood, not my priest, and not family, but would be trusted friends; may we take this atrocity as the dreadfully long needed wake up call that while it is beginning to be acknowledged that an outrageous percentage of families know the intimate experience of sexual violation, almost no one will openly declare they have loved or even known a sexual violator. Before these violations will stop this society must find the nittygritty backbone to openly own that for every victim there is at least one violator--that they are not only our priests, but our neighbors, uncles, brothers etc, etc. And facing the multitudes of feelings about that, that don't speak logic or English, is the challenge that must be overcome if ever there will be a solid social foundation that will effect an acceptable boundary against these atrocities. We ALL have to be willing to face both sides of the grief this brings.
Much Love, Vicky

Your poem just reminds me why I gave up church and religion.I went to a convent girls school and was taught by nuns.At the age of seven we all HAD to go to confession.The rules...we had to or suffer hell if we died.I was such an innocent little kid,a dreamer,I spent every moment I could in the frangipenni tree pretending the flowers were fairies and I'd spin them around and have them in each hand talking pretend to each other.My life then was no more complicated than doing that.I had no sins to confess...truly,I had to make up stuff...it stressed me enormously doing that.
To me childhood confession in itself was grossly cruel.I was afraid of being in that dark cubical telling lies to some stranger (priest)in an attempt to save myself from 'the devil'.No one EVER hurt me in the BAD WAY like the children your poem is about but
nevertheless the dogma of that church has much to answer for...personally I feel my childhood was very marred and hurt by their antiquated laws. I cut myself off from them at the age of nineteen,I DO hold a lot of contempt toward them.Your poem is heartbreaking and true...they must be exposed.This poem is great work,keep it up.